The biggest complaint from funders continues to be that applicants aren’t doing enough research on WHAT they want to fund and they also aren’t following submission instructions. I believe they give you a gift when they provide detailed instructions for what you should submit … just follow those directions and provide everything they ask for, in the order they want to see it.

Funders still complain that applicants aren’t doing their homework to make sure requests match published guidelines. Thorough research can be 50% of success, so be sure your program matches exactly with what funders want to pay for. Funders report receiving two or three times as many requests as they had in previous years, so it’s even more critical to be sure they want to fund your programs. Stay competitive! April 2010.

Remember that the most common reason for rejection or non-funding is “FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS!” Why go to all that trouble and not submit your proposal EXACTLY as the funder requires? After all, it’s their money and they can ask for information any way they want. Make yourself focus on THEIR questions and answer them directly and concisely, and present those answers exactly as directed. It will make funders happy. March 2010.

Always be specific when talking about the number of people you help now and have helped in the past. When you’re describing the number of people you’ve helped with current and past services, always be specific. Give numbers of those you’ve served and, where possible, show how many visits and/or hours of service each one received. Also state whether these are “duplicated” numbers of people (that you’ve counted more than once because they received services on more than one occasion), or “unduplicated” numbers of people (only counted once).

For example, “Each year, XXXXX Agency has provides counseling services for 250 unduplicated adults and 40 children. Each participant receives between 10 and 15 hours of counseling services. This is 15% more than in the past year.”

What I see most often is something vague, such as: “We served 15% more people this year than last.” This doesn’t tell a potential funder HOW many more people this is or how many hours of service they received. February 2010.

Linda Bak, Development Manager at RedRover attended my December 5th, 2011 “Nuts and Bolts” workshop and said, “That was a great workshop. Thanks so much.”

One of my repeat clients, Relationships Skills Center (formerly Sacramento Healthy Marriage Project), once again received a large award from a Federal agency – the Administration for Children and Families – of $798,500. Executive Director Carolyn Rich Curtis and I worked together for an intense two weeks preparing the proposal that resulted in this award, which carries with it an opportunity for two additional years of funding, for a total of $2.4 million.

In August 2011, I was nominated for the Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award presented each year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. It was a highlight in my year to be recognized by those peers nominating me. Here’s just one of the nice things they said about me: “A good consultant blends in with the organization, becoming a virtual extension of the organization’s existing staff. Miriam is particularly adept at this … she becomes fluent in the “language” of that client so that the proposal truly reflects the organization’s voice and vision and articulates its passion.”

The agencies I work with are wonderful … their services change people’s lives, and it’s a privilege to be able to be part of each team.

Elaine Whitefeather, Domestic Violence Intervention Center (DVIC), Citrus Heights, California called to tell me the proposal I wrote for them was funded for $227,906. In addition to the critical funding for their agency, this approval certified DVIC to provide services and makes them more competitive for future funding. Only four awards were made in California, and it’s very rare to fund a second agency in one county to provide similar services in close proximity. The Project Narrative received a perfect score.

I’ve just finished updating and expanding “Master Proposals” for all of the programs at The Salvation Army, Lodi Corps – I created the original boilerplate for them four years ago. This will give them an enhanced ability to quickly adapt their funding argument for a wide variety of funders, so they can submit more grant requests easily.

I wrote two grant proposals for The Lodi Corps of The Salvation Army in February and March, both of which were funded. Kaiser Permanente funded $50,000 for healthcare services for homeless clients in the Lodi Shelter and The City of Lodi funded $40,000 for a wheelchair ramp at the Shelter.

“We got our grant! The full $798,500 for one year and possibility of two more years, for a total of $2.4 million. Thank you SO much.” Carolyn Rich Curtis, Ph.D., Executive Director, Relationship Skills Center, formerly Sacramento Healthy Marriage Project, October 7, 2011.

“Miriam, this is my last week at Sacramento Steps Forward. It has been so good working with you both at Loaves & Fishes and Sacramento Steps Forward. I’ve learned a lot from your writing and organization of proposals and understanding of funding systems. Thanks so much.” Tim Brown, former Executive Director of Sacramento Steps Forward and Loaves & Fishes, September 26, 2011.

In nominating me for the Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award presented annually by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, my peers said of me that “as a consultant, Miriam is particularly adept at becoming a virtual extension of the organization’s existing staff. She also has the objective perspective to guide the client in identifying potential shortcomings and how to deal with them.”

“Thank you for all you do. Your professional expertise is invaluable. Your trainings have given me scope regarding grant writing and overall non-profit development. THANK YOU … you are awesome.” Lereca Monik, September 2, 1011.

“We did get funded for #33,600 and we got $190,000 from the City of Lodi’s Community Development Block Grant Funds. Thank you for your help, Miriam.” Captain Dan Williams, The Salvation Army, Lodi Corps, July 27, 2011.

“Another triumph of a presentation, Miriam. You really ‘blew it out’ by adding a whole new training segment to help us update our Evaluation Methodology section in proposals.” Michael Allyn, Society For the Blind, Sacramento, California, June 15, 2011.

“I wish I could have had this information three years ago when I first took the Fund Development position here at Seniors First … it would have helped to make my grant writing efforts more successful from the start.” Laura Wayman, June 9, 2011.

“Miriam’s enthusiasm for grant writing and her clarity of presentation made this training really valuable.” Nancy Symons, June 16, 2011.

“Miriam really broke it down into manageable pieces!” Attendee at June 16, 2011 training workshop.

“Nicely done on the three recent webinars you presented for our 800-plus state-wide members. Your expertise is unparalleled and we should keep you on-board as a California Primary Care Association speaker.” Barbara Souza, California Primary Care Association, February 28, 2011.

“What great practical information and specific hands-on details” in the December 8th, 2010 training. Thank you, Miriam!”

“Great interaction between Miriam and the workshop participants in her “Nuts and Bolts” workshop on December 8th, 2010.”

“You are absolutely AMAZING! Thanks for helping me with the grant proposal. I don’t know if we will get anything, but at least now we have a chance with your help.” Scott Davis, Powerhouse Ministries, September 2, 2010.

“I just want to touch base with you to remind you that you are one of the kindest people I’ve ever met during my many years in non-profits. Thank you for your time with me.” Kathy May Ly, Executive Director, Sacramento Asian American Minority, Inc.

“What an amazing job you did yesterday … (June 10 all-day training for Catholic Healthcare West and Mercy Foundation) … I’m thanking our lucky stars for you! Your remarkable effort has empowered a broad array of health and human service organizations to make a compelling case for the important work they do. In that, you have been a “midwife” to a better, more humane community.”

“In my 20 years of leading non-profit organizations, this has been the best grant writing workshop ever, with the best handout I’ve ever seen.” Janet Siller, Funding Director, Friday Night Live, Yolo County, California, February 17, 2010.

“By the way, I enjoyed the “Reality Grantmaking” project you worked on. Thanks.” Fred Teichert, Executive Director, The Teichert Foundation, Sacramento, California, October 26, 2009.

“The grant writing workshop yesterday was just amazing! It was so helpful and interesting, simple to understand, and I left feeling I won’t be afraid of proposals.” Liz Jackson, Special Projects, Citizen Voice, October 15, 2009.

“Thanks so much – your Budgeting for Grant Proposals workshop on April 21, 2009 answered all my questions!” Harriet Saeck, Director of Finance and Business Operations, Sacramento Zoological Society.

“Thank you again for the great seminar last week on grant writing. You had such a lot of great knowledge to share and I applaud you for sharing it with the regional nonprofit community. You’re a great instructor!” Elizabeth Marlow, March 2, 2009.

“Miriam, I credit all the success I’ve had in raising grant funding to the basic instructions and discussions I’ve had with you over the past four years.” Joyce Beeman, Volunteer, A Touch Of Understanding, Inc., January 15, 2009.

“I really appreciated your thoroughness in both of the training workshops I attended. I have a really clear picture of what I need.” Jen Borgen, November 2008.

I presented a training workshop for California’s Capital Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals on March 16th, 2007. One of the attendees sent this e-mail: “Thank you for your delightful presentation of the grant making process. It was clear, memorable and filled with very practical applications. You firmly impressed upon me the importance of constantly being good stewards, keeping the reader in mind, inviting team participation and, of course, STARTING EARLY!”

Following a great reception to my three webinars for the California Primary Care Association, I was hired by the Alaska Primary Care Association to present three webinars for them in November 2011 … wish I could go up there to present them in person. I was in Northern British Columbia about five years ago and wish I’d gone on up to Alaska then.

Two of my peers nominated me for the Outstanding Fundraising Professional Award presented annually by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. This was a highlight of my year.

In June, I presented two day-long training workshops for Catholic Healthcare West/Mercy Foundation in Sacramento. Fully half of the 131 participants reported that this training exceeded their expectations.

I presented three webinars for the California Primary Care Association’s 800-plus state-wide members in February and March. I’m also discussing the possibility of presenting similar webinars in another state for their state-wide Primary Care Association.

“Thanks for your experience and for sharing it with us.” Attendee at September 22, 2010 “Funder-Friendly Budgeting for Grant Proposals” workshop.

Most agencies don’t quantify the value their volunteers at a high enough level. Don’t forget the time all your Board members dedicate to helping you. Be sure to capture ALL those hours that community members donate to your work.

Be sure to include a percentage of your Executive Director’s salary (and other management or key staff) in EACH of your program budgets. For example, if your Executive Director works 20% on one program and 25% on another every month, make sure you allocate these percentages (and the accompanying benefits package percentages) in each program budget. This helps you recapture costs you won’t otherwise get funded.

In January and February, 2011 I’m presenting a series of three Webinars for the California Primary Care Association.

My next ‘GETTING THAT GRANT – THE NUTS AND BOLTS’ training workshop at the Nonprofit Resource Center, 1331 Garden Highway, Sacramento, California, is on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23rd, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Check www.nprcenter.org to register.

And … my next ‘FUNDER-FRIENDLY BUDGETING FOR GRANT PROPOSALS’ workshop is on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., also at the Nonprofit Resource Center, 1331 Garden Highway. Check www.nprcenter.org to register.

Another of my clients, Golden Rule Services, reported this morning that they received THREE grant awards from the County of Sacramento’s Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, for HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs.